Pittsburgh Penguins to let winger Michel Ouellet become free agent

The Canadian Press

General manager Ray Shero said the decision not to make a qualifying contract offer to Ouellet was driven largely by the salary cap and the fact that Ouellet would be eligible for salary arbitration.

"The decision was not about Michel, but about the system," Shero said. "Michel did a good job and made strides last year. I respect those strides, but I don't believe his (salary range) is where he thinks he might be."

Ouellet has scored 35 goals in the past two seasons, and had 19 goals and 48 points last season.

He's only 17 but he can see the ice so well and he moves the puck and goes to the open ice all the time, so I just think he's a player that is ready to play in the NHL. I'm really looking forward to coaching someone like this.

— U.S. National Junior Team coach Ron Wilson on Auston Matthews, the projected No. 1 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft